Defining AIDS competence: a working model for practical purposes

In: Journal of international development: the journal of the Development Studies Association, Band 13, Heft 4, S. 513-521

Abstract

AbstractThis paper addresses the challenge of reducing HIV infection through creating AIDS‐competent societies. A working model is presented based on extensive international practical experience pooled by facilitators in 10 African countries and Thailand. The main underlying theme is that community members can be empowered to develop their own individual and collective plans of action that will: (i) reduce the likelihood of them becoming infected by HIV; (ii) maintain the quality of their lives through appropriate care and support to those who are infected, and to those who have developed AIDS and their families; and (iii) become autonomous, by monitoring and evaluating their progress in becoming fully AIDS‐competent and learning from each other about how best to move forward in this process, using methods and a strategy that is acceptable to the wider community. A further component of the working model would be the inclusion of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA) in such activities. This successful bottom‐up process is permeating upwards from the grassroots to professionals in many sectors at district and national levels. It promises to provide a powerful, tailor‐made method for the containment of HIV infection. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.